What are Fulfillment Services?
10 Things to Know About Fulfillment Services
How Does It Work?
Fulfillment Terms & Definitions
Questions to Ask Fulfillment Companies
How to Choose a Fulfillment Provider

Questions to Ask Fulfillment Companies

Here is a list of questions that you should ask different fulfillment companies while looking for the one right for you.

1. What kind of fulfillment services do you provide?
2. Where is the location of your warehouses and headquarters?
3. What locations would be best for my company to use?
4. What is the typical turn around rate for products such as mine?
5. What is the typical shipping time for products such as mine?
6. Are there turn around rate guarantees?
7. What is your policy for products damaged while in your warehouse?
8. What is your policy for products damaged during shipping?
9. Who will I need to contact primarily should I use your services? Where are they located?
10. What is a list of your usual fees?
11. What is your shortest contract period length?
12. What insurance do you use and what coverage will it provide my products?
13. What are normal payment periods?
14. Who do you prefer to use for shipping?
15. What kind of shipping discounts do you have?
16. Do I pay you or the shipping company for shipping?
17. What is the best way to package my product?

How to Choose a Fulfillment Provider

The Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association (MFSA) has a list of thousands of fulfillment providers in the continental United States, here are a few ways to go about choosing the best provider for your company:

* Location: It is wise to take into account where the location of the warehouse is in relation to both your main customer base as well as your suppliers. Shipping costs can take a toll on your company after a while, so minimizing costs by being as close as you can be to both your supplier and customers should be important to you.
* Services Provided: You should know exactly what services the fulfillment company provides. They should be able to both track and record your shipments, as well as manage your inventory in a professional manner. Some companies will have other services available such as credit card and order processing. These services can be very important to those who run their businesses online and have a large volume of sales.
* Customer Service: You should get a written estimate before you start sending shipments to a provider’s warehouse. You should also know if you will have a personal representative for your account, or at least a specified calling number. Providers that are easy to get a hold of are usually a safe bet.
* Check References: Do some research on the MFSA website along with Dun & Bradstreet, the BBB, and your local Chamber of Commerce for information the service providers. Other locations for recommendations are the USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Also, look to see if the company is ISO 9000 certified, if they are than they follow a certain standard management procedure. You should also find out the “shrinkage rate,” which is the percentage of inventory that is lost due to damage, loss, or theft, a good shrinkage rate should not surpass 2-3%.

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